Toy top

ABSTRACT

A toy top which is played against an opponent toy top on a playing board including an upper layer member for attacking an opponent toy top, an intermediate layer member for determining a height of the toy top, and a lower layer member for determining a manner of moving of the toy top on a playing board, the members being stacked. The upper layer member is formed with an opening through which a screw of a screw-like coupling member is inserted, the intermediate layer member is formed with a screw hole to receive the screw of the coupling member, and the upper layer member and the intermediate member are coupled by the coupling member. The lower layer member is fitted to a lower part of the intermediate layer member.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. Section 119 of Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-2076, filed Apr. 4, 2008, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety into this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a toy top, and more specifically to a toy top in which members constituting the toy top can be disassembled and assembled easily.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, various toy tops which can be altered to have a different rotating characteristic easily by changing constituent members have been proposed and have been put to practical use by the assignee of the present application (for example, see Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 3067318). The toy top includes a base member or a lowermost layer, an intermediate layer member disposed on an upper side of the base member, an upper layer member disposed on an upper side of the intermediate layer member, and a character display body disposed on the upper layer member, these four constituent members being arranged in a layered manner. The intermediate layer member is formed from metal to serve as a weight member heavier than the other members. The upper layer member is formed from synthetic resin such that its outer end projects beyond the base member and the intermediate layer member and an attacking force differs according to a shape of an outer edge portion of the upper layer member when the upper layer member hits an upper layer member of another toy top. Base members of different height and size of an area of a distal end of a rotating shaft can be used.

The abovementioned toy top is configured such that the intermediate layer member serves as a weight, the upper layer member serves to attack an opponent's top, an attacking force for which is changed by replacing the upper layer member with another upper layer member, and a moving characteristic and/or rotating characteristic of the toy top on a playing board can be selected according to a height of the toy top and a shape of a distal end of the rotating shaft by replacing the base member with another base member. However, since both the height of the base member and the shape of the distal end of the rotating shaft are set in advance, selection from a broad range of rotating characteristics and/or moving characteristics cannot be performed. Further, since when the upper layer member is fitted to the base member, they are coupled to each other in a state where the intermediate layer member is sandwiched therebetween, a problem arises in that backlash or play between these members occurs.

SUMARRY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in view of the abovementioned problem. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a toy top for which various attacking characteristics and rotating characteristics can be selected by increasing the degree of flexibility of a combination of constituent members and respective constituent members can be securely connected to one another without causing backlash between the constituent members.

There is provided a toy top which is played against an opponent toy top on a playing board. The toy top includes: an upper layer member provided with a function of attacking an opponent toy top; an intermediate layer member provided with a function of determining a height of the toy top; a lower layer member provided with a function of determining a manner of moving the toy top on the playing board, the upper layer member, the intermediate member and the lower layer member being stacked on one another in a layered manner; and a screw-like coupling member for coupling the upper layer member and the intermediate layer member to each other; the upper layer member having an opening formed in the center thereof through which a screw of the coupling member is inserted, the intermediate layer member having a screw hole formed therein into which the screw of the coupling member is screwed; and the lower layer member being detachably attached to a lower part of the intermediate layer member.

The upper layer member may be formed from metal so that the upper layer member is provided with a function of a heavy weight.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the upper layer member has fit projections formed thereon symmetrically regarding the opening, and the intermediate layer member has fit recesses formed therein so as to correspond to the fit projections of the upper layer member, so that the fit projections of the upper layer member are fitted in the fit recesses of the intermediate layer member, respectively.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the upper layer member is formed in a circular disc shape and includes an attacking portion projecting outwardly on an outer peripheral surface thereof, the upper layer member includes fit projections formed on a bottom thereof symmetrically regarding the opening, the intermediate layer member is formed in a cylindrical shape and includes a bulging portion formed on an upper outer peripheral surface thereof and fit recesses formed on the bulging portion so as to correspond to the fit projections, and the fit projections of the upper layer member are fitted in the fit recesses of the intermediate layer member, respectively.

According to still another embodiment of the present invention, the lower layer member has a shaft portion and arc-shaped openings formed on an outside of the shaft portion, and the intermediate layer member has engagement projections formed on a lower end lateral surface thereof so as to be respectively engaged with the arc-shaped openings of the lower layer member.

According to still another embodiment of the present invention, the lower layer member is formed in an inverted circular-truncated conical shape and has an approximately circular opening formed on an upper side thereof into which a cylindrical portion of the intermediate layer member is fitted, the lower layer member includes a shaft portion projecting downwardly, the lower layer member is formed with a pair of arc-shaped openings positioned across the shaft portion outside the shaft portion, the arc-shaped openings are each formed on an inner wall thereof with a protrusion, and the intermediate layer member is formed with a pair of engagement projections on a lower end lateral surface of the cylindrical portion, so that the engagement projections of the intermediate layer member are inserted into the arc-shaped openings of the lower layer member to be engaged with the protrusions formed on the inner walls of the arc-shaped openings of the lower layer member, respectively.

According to the present invention, a toy top which can achieve a flexible combination of constituent members, where the constituent members can be coupled to one another without causing backlash by coupling the upper layer member and the intermediate member utilizing a screw-like coupling member and simplification of the constituent members can be realized.

The upper layer member can be formed from metal so that unlike the conventional toy top in which a member for attacking is formed from synthetic resin, necessity for separately preparing a weight member for increasing a weight of the whole toy top is eliminated, and the number of constituent parts can be reduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a toy top according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the toy top;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of an upper layer member of the toy top;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are a plan view and a bottom view of an intermediate layer member of the toy top;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of a lower layer member of the toy top;

FIGS. 6A and 6B, 6C and 6D, 6E and 6F, and 6G and 6H are perspective views of intermediate layer members viewed from above and front views thereof;

FIGS. 7A to 7E are perspective views of the lower layer members viewed from below; and

FIGS. 8A to 8D are front views showing a process of assembling the toy top.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of a toy top according to the present invention. A toy top A includes an upper layer member 1 for attacking an opponent toy top, an intermediate layer member 2 for determining a height of the toy top, a lower layer member 3 for determining a manner of moving of the toy top on a playing board, and a screw-like coupling member 4 for coupling the upper layer member 1 and the intermediate layer member 2.

The upper layer member 1 can be formed in a circular disc shape including an opening 5 through which the coupling member 4 is inserted at a central portion thereof, and attacking portions 6 which contact an opponent toy top to attack the same are formed on an outer peripheral surface of the upper layer member 1 so as to project outwardly. A pair of fit projections 7 is formed on a bottom of the upper layer member 1 symmetrically regarding the opening 5 so as to project downwardly (see FIG. 3). By fitting the fit projections 7 into fit recesses 11 of the intermediate layer member 2 described later, assembling of the upper layer member 1 with the intermediate member 2 is made easy, and backlash or play between the upper layer member 1 and the intermediate layer member 2 in a circumferential direction of the toy top is eliminated.

The intermediate layer member 2 can be formed in a cylindrical shape, an inner wall surface thereof being formed with a thread 8 to configure a screw hole 9 in which a screw 4 a of the coupling member 4 described later is screwed. An upper outer peripheral surface of the intermediate layer member 2 bulges outwardly to form a bulging portion 10 and a pair of the fit recesses 11 is symmetrically formed on the bulging portion 10 (see FIG. 4A).

A part of the cylindrical portion 12 downwardly extending from the bulging portion 10 configures an adjustment portion 13 functioning so as to determine a height of the toy top based upon a different length L for each intermediate layer member 2, where an intermediate layer member 2 including an adjustment portion 13 having three stages, an intermediate layer member 2 including an adjustment portion 13 having two stages, an intermediate layer member 2 including an adjustment portion 13 having one stage, and an intermediate layer member 2 including no adjustment portion 13 are provided (see FIGS. 6A and 6B, 6C and 6D, 6E and 6F, and 6G and 6H). By selecting an intermediate layer member 2 from these intermediate layer members 2 each including the adjustment portion 13 having a different length L, the total height of the assembled toy top A can be changed, so that an attacking pattern such as whether the toy top A attacks an opponent toy top from below, from above, or from a right angle can be set. A pair of engagement projections 14 engageable with a pair of arc-shaped openings 16 formed in the lower layer member 3 described later is formed on a lower end lateral surface of the cylindrical portion 12 (see FIG. 4B).

The lower layer member 3 can be formed in an inverted circular-truncated conical shape. An approximately circular opening, in which the cylindrical portion 12 of the intermediate layer member 2 is inserted, is formed on an upper side of the lower layer member 3, and a shaft portion 15 is formed on a lower part of the lower layer member 3 so as to project downwardly. The lower layer member 3 determines movement of the toy top on the playing board based upon a shape of the shaft portion 15. A moving state of the toy top A can be changed according to a lower layer member 3 to be selected. When a distal end 15 a of the shaft portion 15 is flat as shown in FIGS. 7A to 7D, a peripheral edge of the distal end 15 a contacts a top of the playing board so that the degree of movement of the toy top A on the playing board changes in proportion to a size of a diameter of the distal end 15 a, and the degree of movement of the toy top A on the playing board becomes large in accordance with the increase of a diameter of the flat distal end 15 a. When the distal end is formed in a semi-spherical shape (see FIG. 7E), the distal end and the playing board configure a point contact so that the toy top A does not move around on the playing board and it remains in one place while waiting for the attack of an opponent toy top.

The pair of arc-shaped openings 16 is formed outside the shaft portion 15 symmetrically regarding the shaft portion 15. An inner wall of each arc-shaped opening 16 partially protrudes toward the shaft portion 15 to form a protrusion 17 so that the engagement projections 14 of the intermediate layer member 2 are engaged with the protrusions 17, whereby the lower layer member 3 can be fixed to the intermediate layer member 2 (see FIG. 5).

When the toy top having the abovementioned configuration is assembled, the upper layer member 1, the intermediate layer member 2, and the lower layer member 3 are selected in accordance with the attacking characteristic and the rotating characteristic of the toy top to be assembled (see FIG. 8A). After the respective members are selected, the fit projections 7 of the upper layer member 1 are fitted into the fit recesses 11 of the intermediate layer 2, respectively (see FIG. 8B).

Next, the screw 4 a of the coupling member 4 is inserted through the opening 5 of the upper layer member 1 from above to be screwed into the screw hole 9 of the intermediate layer member 2, so that the upper layer member 1 is fixed to the intermediate layer member 2. In this state, the upper layer member 1 is brought into pressure-contact with the intermediate layer member 2 and fixed thereto by the coupling member 4 without allowing for play (see FIG. 8C).

Next, the cylindrical portion 12 of the intermediate layer member 2 is fitted into the approximately circular opening of the lower layer member 3 in a state where the arc-shaped openings 16 of the lower layer member 3 are caused to face the engagement projections 14 formed on the cylindrical portion 12 of the intermediate layer member 2, and the lower layer member 3 is rotated in a circumferential direction to cause the engagement projections 14 to engage the lower sides of the protrusions 17 (see FIG. 8D), so that the toy top A comprising the upper layer member 1, the intermediate layer member 2, and the lower layer member 3 such as shown in FIG. 1 can be assembled.

In the assembled state of the toy top A, when the lower layer member 3 should be replaced by another one, the lower layer member 3 is rotated in a direction reverse to the rotating direction at the time of mounting the lower layer member to disengage the engagement projections 14 from the protrusions 17 so that the lower layer member 3 is detached from the intermediate layer member 2, and a new lower layer member 3 can be attached to the intermediate layer member 2 after the detachment. When the upper layer member 1 should be replaced by another one, since the coupling member 4 is rotated reversely to undo the screw 4 a and disengage it from the intermediate layer member 2 so that the upper layer member 1 can be detached from the intermediate layer member 2, a new upper layer member 1 and the intermediate layer member 2 can be coupled to each other by fitting fit projections 7 of the new upper layer member 1 into the fit recesses 11 of the intermediate layer member 2 and fastening the coupling member 4. Thus, the combination of the respective members can be changed easily.

Incidentally, when the intermediate layer member is replaced by another one, it is necessary to disassemble all of the upper layer member, the intermediate layer member, and the lower layer member once and perform a new assembling thereof. 

1. A toy top which is played against an opponent toy top on a playing board, comprising: an upper layer member provided for attacking an opponent toy top; an intermediate layer member for determining a height of the toy top; a lower layer member for determining a movement of the toy top on a playing board, the upper layer member, the intermediate layer member and the lower layer member being stacked on one another; a screw-like coupling member for coupling the upper layer member to the intermediate layer member; the upper layer member having an opening formed in the center thereof through which a screw of the coupling member is inserted, the intermediate layer member having a screw hole formed therein into which the screw of the coupling member is screwed; and the lower layer member being detachably attached to a lower part of the intermediate layer member.
 2. The toy top according to claim 1, wherein the upper layer member is formed from metal so that the upper layer member functions as a weight.
 3. The toy top according to claim 1, wherein the upper layer member has fit projections formed thereon symmetrically regarding the opening, and the intermediate layer member has fit recesses formed therein so as to correspond to the fit projections of the upper layer member, so that the fit projections of the upper layer member are fitted in the fit recesses of the intermediate layer member, respectively.
 4. The toy top according to claim 2, wherein the upper layer member has fit projections formed thereon symmetrically regarding the opening, and the intermediate layer member has fit recesses formed therein so as to correspond to the fit projections of the upper layer member, so that the fit projections of the upper layer member are fitted in the fit recesses of the intermediate layer member, respectively.
 5. The toy top according to claim 1, wherein the upper layer member is formed in a circular disc shape and includes an attacking portion projecting outwardly on an outer peripheral surface thereof, the upper layer member includes fit projections formed on a bottom thereof symmetrically regarding the opening, the intermediate layer member is formed in a cylindrical shape and includes a bulging portion formed on an upper outer peripheral surface thereof and fit recesses formed on the bulging portion so as to correspond to the fit projections, and the fit projections of the upper layer member are fitted in the fit recesses of the intermediate layer member, respectively.
 6. The toy top according to claim 2, wherein the upper layer member is formed in a circular disc shape and includes an attacking portion projecting outwardly on an outer peripheral surface thereof, the upper layer member includes fit projections formed on a bottom thereof symmetrically regarding the opening, the intermediate layer member is formed in a cylindrical shape and includes a bulging portion formed on an upper outer peripheral surface thereof and fit recesses formed on the bulging portion so as to correspond to the fit projections, and the fit projections of the upper layer member are fitted in the fit recesses of the intermediate layer member, respectively.
 7. The toy top according to claim 1, wherein the lower layer member has a shaft portion and arc-shaped openings formed on an outside of the shaft portion, and the intermediate layer member has engagement projections formed on a lower end lateral surface thereof so as to be respectively engaged with the arc-shaped openings of the lower layer member.
 8. The toy top according to claim 2, wherein the lower layer member has a shaft portion and arc-shaped openings formed on an outside of the shaft portion, and the intermediate layer member has engagement projections formed on a lower end lateral surface thereof so as to be respectively engaged with the arc-shaped openings of the lower layer member.
 9. The toy top according to claim 5, wherein the lower layer member is formed in an inverted circular-truncated conical shape and has an approximately circular opening formed on an upper side thereof into which a cylindrical portion of the intermediate layer member is fitted, the lower layer member includes a shaft portion projecting downwardly, the lower layer member is formed with a pair of arc-shaped openings positioned across the shaft portion outside the shaft portion, the arc-shaped openings are each formed on an inner wall thereof with a protrusion, and the intermediate layer member is formed with a pair of engagement projections on a lower end lateral surface of the cylindrical portion, so that the engagement projections of the intermediate layer member are inserted into the arc-shaped openings of the lower layer member to be engaged with the protrusions formed on the inner walls of the arc-shaped openings of the lower layer member, respectively.
 10. The toy top according to claim 6, wherein the lower layer member is formed in an inverted circular-truncated conical shape and has an approximately circular opening formed on an upper side thereof into which a cylindrical portion of the intermediate layer member is fitted, the lower layer member includes a shaft portion projecting downwardly, the lower layer member is formed with a pair of arc-shaped openings positioned across the shaft portion outside the shaft portion, the arc-shaped openings are each formed on an inner wall thereof with a protrusion, and the intermediate layer member is formed with a pair of engagement projections on a lower end lateral surface of the cylindrical portion, so that the engagement projections of the intermediate layer member are inserted into the arc-shaped openings of the lower layer member to be engaged with the protrusions formed on the inner walls of the arc-shaped openings of the lower layer member, respectively.
 11. A toy top, comprising: a first layer member having at least one projection for attacking an opponent toy top; a second layer member for determining a height of the toy top; a third layer member for determining movement of the toy top on a playing board, the first layer member, the second layer member and the third layer member being stacked on one another; a screw-like coupling member for coupling the first layer member to the second layer member; and the third member being detachably attached to a lower part of the second layer member.
 12. The top toy according to claim 11, wherein the second layer member is chosen from a plurality of interchangeable second layers, each having a different height.
 13. The toy top according to claim 11, wherein the first layer member has a weight greater than that of the second or third members.
 14. The toy top according to claim 11, wherein the first and second layer members include cooperative elements preventing rotation of the first and second layer members relative to each other.
 15. The toy top according to claim 11, wherein the first layer member has a disc shape and a width greater than a width of the second or third layer members.
 16. The toy top according to claim 11, wherein the third layer member has a shaft portion terminating in one of a flat end or a semispherical end.
 17. The toy top according to claim 11, wherein the third layer member has an inverted circular-truncated conical shape and an approximately circular opening formed on one end thereof into which a cylindrical portion of the second layer member is detachably attached.
 18. The toy top according to claim 11, wherein the first layer member is chosen from a plurality of interchangeable first layer members, each having a different weight and a different at least one projection.
 19. A toy top which is played against an opponent toy top on a playing board, comprising: an upper layer member for attacking the opponent toy top; an intermediate layer member for determining a height of the toy top; a lower layer member for determining a movement of the toy top on a playing board, the upper layer member, the intermediate layer member and the lower layer member being stacked on one another; a screw-like coupling member for coupling the upper layer member to the intermediate layer member, wherein the upper layer member has an opening formed in the center thereof through which a screw of the coupling member is inserted, the intermediate layer member has a screw hole formed therein into which the screw of the coupling member is screwed, wherein the lower layer member is detachably attached to a lower part of the intermediate layer member, wherein the upper layer member has fit projections formed thereon symmetrically regarding the opening, and the intermediate layer member has fit recesses formed therein so as to correspond to the fit projections of the upper layer member, so that the fit projections of the upper layer member are removably fitted in the fit recesses of the intermediate layer member, respectively, and wherein the lower layer member has a shaft portion and arc-shaped openings formed on an outside of the shaft portion, and the intermediate layer member has engagement projections formed on a lower end lateral surface thereof so as to be respectively engaged with the arc-shaped openings of the lower layer member.
 20. The toy top according to claim 19, wherein the upper layer member is formed from metal so that the upper layer member functions as a weight.
 21. The toy top according to claim 19, wherein the upper layer member has a circular disc shape and includes an attacking portion projecting outwardly on an outer peripheral surface thereof.
 22. The toy top according to claim 19, wherein the lower layer member has an inverted circular-truncated conical shape and an approximately circular opening formed on an upper side thereof into which a cylindrical portion of the intermediate layer member is fitted.
 23. A method for assembling a toy top, comprising the steps of: forming a plurality of upper layer members to include at least one lateral projection; forming a plurality of intermediate layer members of different heights; forming a plurality of lower layer member with a surface to allow movement of the toy top on a playing area, wherein the upper layer member is formed to have a weight greater than the intermediate of the lower layer members; stacking one of the upper layer members, one of the intermediate layer members and one of the lower layer members on one another; removably coupling the upper layer member to the intermediate layer member via screw-threaded a coupling member; and detachably attaching the lower layer member to a lower part of the intermediate layer member.
 24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the steps are reversed to disassemble the toy top.
 25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the steps of claim 23 are followed again, but a second one of the upper layer members having a different weight and having a different projection and a second one of the intermediate layer members of a different height are assembled.
 26. The method according to claim 23, further comprising the steps of: forming the upper layer member to include fit projections and forming the intermediate layer member to include fit recesses corresponding to the fit projections of the upper layer member, and fitting the fit projections of the upper layer member and the fit recesses of the intermediate layer member to prevent relative rotation of the upper layer member relative to the lower layer member.
 27. The method according to claim 23, further comprising the steps of: forming the upper layer member in a circular disc shape to include as the at least one projection an attacking portion projecting outwardly on an outer peripheral surface thereof, forming the upper layer member to include fit projections on a bottom thereof, forming the intermediate layer member in a cylindrical shape and including a bulging portion formed on an upper outer peripheral surface thereof and fit recesses formed on the bulging portion so as to correspond to the fit projections, and fitting the fit projections of the upper layer member to the fit recesses of the intermediate layer member.
 28. The method according to claim 23, further comprising the steps of: forming the lower layer member to have a shaft portion and arc-shaped openings on an outside of the shaft portion, and forming the intermediate layer member to have engagement projections formed on a lower end lateral surface thereof so as to be respectively engaged with the arc-shaped openings of the lower layer member.
 29. The method according to claim 23, further comprising the steps of: forming the lower layer member in an inverted circular-truncated conical shape to have an approximately circular opening on an upper side thereof into which a cylindrical portion of the intermediate layer member is fitted, forming the lower layer member to include a shaft portion projecting downwardly, forming the lower layer member with a pair of arc-shaped openings positioned across the shaft portion outside the shaft portion, forming the arc-shaped openings on an inner wall thereof with a protrusion, forming the intermediate layer member with a pair of engagement projections on a lower end lateral surface of the cylindrical portion, and inserting the engagement projections of the intermediate layer member into the arc-shaped openings of the lower layer member to be engaged with the protrusions formed on the inner walls of the arc-shaped openings of the lower layer member, respectively. 